Photo courtesy of Sara Dechance
The Mustangs overcame a 12-point second-half deficit on Saturday, defeating the defending national champion Stanford Cardinal in a thrilling 31-29 victory in Stanford.
Liz Goethals — the Mustangs’ leading try-scorer — and Audrey Johnson each added two more to their belts, Goethals nabbing the game-tying try with about five minutes remaining in the match. The Mustangs (3-0 Pacific Mountain) sit atop the conference standings heading into the bye week.
“As a coach, I try not to differentiate between our conference opponents, as they’re all trying to beat us and we them; but to not acknowledge the immense gravity of that win would rob our ladies of the recognition they deserve, and it would not properly convey the respect I have for Stanford,” head coach Zach Markow said. “Stanford has been the standard of excellence in women’s rugby for decades, producing Eagles and Olympians regularly. To not only compete with them, but to beat them, is a tremendous accomplishment for our young program and a testament to the dedication the ladies have to our vision for Cal Poly women’s rugby.”
The Cardinal scored first six minutes in. A mishandled kick reception and a subsequent penalty gave Stanford the opportunity at a lineout deep in Mustang territory — an opportunity that would be capitalized on a short time later.
Multiple Cal Poly possessions within Stanford’s 22-meter line were thwarted by Cardinal poaches. The Mustangs got on the board 22 minutes in when flanker Carli Cockrell broke the line and found Grace Staff in support, who scored. Mia Nelson connected on the conversion for a 7-5 lead.
Scrumhalf Audrey Johnson scored in the 36th minute, calling her own number with a quick-tap. She cut through the middle of the Stanford defense before beating the fullback to the left corner for the try. This time Nelson missed, Mustangs 12-5.
Stanford scored in the 39th minute and converted, locking the match at 12-12 at halftime.
“We really needed to clean up our rucks,” Markow said he told his team at the break. “Stanford was really slowing down our momentum in attack by effectively countering us at the breakdown. I challenged the girls to clear out any threats so we could have a clean ball and get it out quickly.”
Watch: Cal Poly defeats Stanford
The Cardinal would find success again from a lineout close to the Mustangs’ goal line, punching in a score in the 43rd minute to take a five-point lead, 17-12.
A promising Cal Poly drive minutes later ended with a turnover at the 5-meter line. A clearance kick following the ensuing Stanford scrum was blocked and recovered by Audrey Johnson for a try, 17-17.
Stanford responded with two tries in five minutes: In the 57th minute, Stanford scored on a maul from a lineout, and in the 62nd minute, a break along the right sideline led to a hard-earned try from the Cardinal forward pack. A successful conversion gave Stanford a 29-17 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Several Cal Poly possessions resulted in territory, but no points, as the clock ticked into the 70th minute, the Cardinal appearing to hold the momentum.
A Stanford knock-on was the spark Cal Poly needed. The Mustangs got the ball out wide left, shifting it through four pairs of hands before finding Goethals, who outran four defenders for a try behind the posts. Successful conversion — 29-24, Stanford, with just over seven minutes left.
Just over a minute later, the Mustangs again found success out wide; the ball shifting across the back line to Goethals. Goethals offloaded to Johnson, Johnson to her flanker, the flanker to Goethals, who dotted it down near the left corner — 29-29 with about four minutes remaining.
Mia Nelson, who up until that point was 2 of 4 on conversions, lined up for a not-so-easy kick.
Right down the middle. 31-29, Cal Poly with about three minutes remaining.
A Stanford poach with a minute left gave the Cardinal one last opportunity — one quickly snuffed out by a Mustang defender, who grabbed a poach of her own. The final seconds ticked down, and a Cal Poly kick out of bounds ended it.
“I’m incredibly proud of the girls. They never lost belief or composure,” Markow said. “There wasn’t anything specific that they did; they just kept up relentless pursuit of the ball.”
Cal Poly has a bye week this Saturday. The Stanford Cardinal visit San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Feb. 21, replacing a previously scheduled match against Chico State.
Kickoff for that match will be posted at a later time.
Team award winners:
A-side:
Forward of the Match: Izzy Wallin
Back of the Match: Liz Goethals
B-side:
Forward of the Match: Jordan Kixmiller
Back of the Match: Claire Anderson
Rookie of the Match: Claire Anderson
Ferocious Joy: Mia Nelson
